Composite article of jewelry and method of making the article

ABSTRACT

A composite article of jewelry, and a method of making the article, cast an arcuate cast shank part from a molten metal material. The cast shank part has solid, arcuate segments that extend in opposite circumferential directions about an axis, and solid, cylindrical projections that extend past the arcuate segments along the opposite circumferential directions. An arcuate, hollow tubular shank part is connected to the cast shank part to form an annular shank that is centered on the axis. The tubular shank part is preferably rolled from sheet metal and has a selected circumferential length to match a desired shank size. The tubular shank part has openings at its opposite ends, and the openings snugly receive the projections when the tubular shank part is connected to the cast shank part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a composite article of jewelry, such as a ring, bracelet, bangle, necklace, earring, or like jewelry item, and to a method of making the article.

In the jewelry industry, it is known to fabricate a jewelry article, such as a ring having an annular shank, by a casting process in which a metal, such as gold, silver, platinum, titanium, brass, stainless steel, or like metal material, is heated into molten form, and then poured into a mold having a predetermined shape of the desired ring and a predetermined size, i.e., diameter, of the annular shank. Thereupon, the molten metal is cooled, removed from the mold, and polished. Although this casting process is generally satisfactory for its intended purpose, it is relatively costly, because a different mold must be provided for each ring size and shape, and, over time, the molds wear out and must be replaced, thereby further increasing manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of this invention is directed to a composite article of jewelry, such as a ring, bracelet, bangle, necklace, earring, or like jewelry item. The article includes an arcuate, cast shank part that is cast from a molten metal material. The cast shank part has solid, arcuate segments that extend in opposite circumferential directions about an axis, and solid, cylindrical projections that extend past the arcuate segments along the opposite circumferential directions. The article also includes an arcuate, hollow tubular shank part for connection to the cast shank part to form an annular shank that is centered on the axis. The tubular shank part is constituted of a metal material and has a selected circumferential length. The tubular shank part has circular openings at its opposite ends, and the openings are configured to receive the projections, preferably with a snug fit, when the tubular shank part is connected to the cast shank part.

The tubular shank part is preferably rolled from sheet metal, but could also be extruded as a hollow cylindrical tube from a die. When the article is a ring, such as an engagement or wedding ring, the cast shank part advantageously is cast with a setting or head for supporting a stone, such as a gemstone, between the arcuate segments. The selected circumferential length of the tubular shank part corresponds to a desired shank size or diameter that corresponds to the size of a wearer's finger. The metal material of each of the cast shank part and the tubular shank part may be gold, silver, platinum, titanium, brass, stainless steel, or like metal material. The openings receive the projections along soldered and polished seams. At each seam, each arcuate segment is cylindrical and has an outer diameter that closely matches an outer diameter of the tubular shank part to minimize any step or transition across each seam.

Still another aspect of this invention is directed to a method of making the composite article of jewelry. The method includes casting an arcuate, cast shank part from a molten metal material to form solid, arcuate segments that extend in opposite circumferential directions about an axis, and solid, cylindrical projections that extend past the arcuate segments along the opposite circumferential directions. The method also includes forming a hollow tubular shank part of a metal material, selecting a length for the tubular shank part, and configuring the tubular shank part into an arcuate shape, with circular openings at opposite ends of the tubular shank part. The method further includes connecting the tubular shank part to the cast shank part to form an annular shank that is centered on the axis by inserting the projections into the openings.

Advantageously, the forming of the tubular shank part is performed by rolling sheet metal into a hollow cylindrical tube, or by extruding metal material though a die into a hollow cylindrical tube. Once the tube is formed, the tubular shank part is formed into an arcuate U-shape or C-shape by wrapping the tubular shank part around a cylindrical drum, or by passing the tubular shank part through roller dies. The metal material of each of the cast shank part and the tubular shank part may be gold, silver, platinum, titanium, brass, stainless steel, or like metal material. The connecting of the tubular shank part to the cast shank part is performed at seams between the openings and the projections, and the seams are advantageously soldered and polished. At each seam, each arcuate segment is cylindrical and has an outer diameter that closely matches an outer diameter of the tubular shank part to minimize any step or transition across each seam. When the article is a ring, the casting is performed by casting a setting for supporting a stone, such as a gemstone, between the arcuate segments. The selecting of the length for the tubular shank part is performed by matching a desired size or diameter of a wearer's finger.

Thus, when the article is, for example, a ring, the entire ring is not cast as one piece as in the known art, but only a part of the ring, e.g., an upper shank part, which typically includes a setting for a gemstone, is cast. This upper cast shank part is the same for all rings no matter what the ring size, and is made from a single mold. A different mold need no longer be provided for each ring size and shape. A plurality of molds need no longer be replaced. Instead, a lower shank part of the ring is not cast, but is formed into a hollow cylindrical tube that is cut to a selected length that corresponds to the desired circumferential shank or finger size. This cylindrical tube can he inexpensively fabricated by being rolled from sheet metal, or by extrusion through a die. The composite article, which is formed by interconnecting the upper and lower shank parts, can thus be manufactured and sold at a lower cost as compared to the known all-cast articles.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in shank particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, side view of an article of jewelry during assembly in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the article of FIG. 1 after assembly.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting steps performed in the making of the article of jewelry of FIG. 1 in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIG. 2 generally identifies a composite article of jewelry, and, as shown, a ring, such as an engagement or wedding ring. The ring 10 includes, as best shown in FIG. 1, an arcuate, cast shank part 12 that is cast from a molten metal material. The cast shank part 12 has shoulders or solid, arcuate segments 14, 16 that extend in opposite circumferential directions about an axis 18, and solid, cylindrical projections 20, 22 that extend past the arcuate segments 14, 16 along the opposite circumferential directions. The cast shank part 12 may also be cast with a head or setting 36 for supporting a stone, such as a gemstone 38, between the arcuate segments 14, 16. The cast shank part 12 may be pre-polished.

The ring 10 further includes an arcuate, hollow tubular shank part 24 for connection to the cast shank part 12 to form an annular shank (see FIG. 2) that is centered on the axis 18. The tubular shank part 24 is constituted of a metal material and has a selected circumferential length. The selected circumferential length of the tubular shank part 24 corresponds to a desired shank or wearer's finger size. The tubular shank part 24 is preferably rolled from sheet metal, but could also be extruded as a hollow cylindrical tube through a die. Once the tube is formed, the tubular shank part 24 is formed into an arcuate U-shape or C-shape by wrapping the tubular shank part 24 around a cylindrical drum, or by passing the tubular shank part 24 through roller dies. The tubular shank part 24 is hollow throughout its length and has circular openings 26, 28 at its opposite ends. The openings 26, 28 are configured to receive the projections 20, 22 when the tubular shank part 24 is connected to the cast shank part 12 by being moved in the direction of the arrow 30. The outer diameters of the cylindrical projections 20, 22 closely match the inner diameters of the circular openings 26, 28 to obtain a tight, snug fit when the shank parts 12, 14 are interconnected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the openings 26, 28 receive the projections 20, 22 along seams 32, 34. These seams 32, 34 are covered with solder and soldered closed, and then polished to remove any evidence or visible presence of any seams. At each seam 32, 34, each arcuate segment 14, 16 is cylindrical and has an outer diameter that closely matches an outer diameter of the tubular shank part 24 to minimize any step or transition across each seam 32, 34. In the case where the tubular shank part 24 is rolled from sheet metal, the longitudinal seam extending lengthwise of the tubular shank part 24 is also covered with solder, and then polished to remove any visible presence of the longitudinal seam.

The metal material of each of the cast shank part 12 and the tubular shank part 24 may be gold, silver, platinum, titanium, brass, stainless steel, or the like. The cast shank part 12 and the tubular shank part 24 may be made from the same, or from different, metal materials. Settings that are different from the illustrated setting 38, or even a jewelry article having no setting, are also contemplated by this disclosure. Although the drawings depict a ring, it will be understood that the jewelry article could also be a bracelet, bangle, necklace, earring, or like jewelry item.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that depicts the steps employed in a method of making the composite article of jewelry 10. In step 40, the arcuate, cast shank part 12 is formed and cast from molten metal material to form the solid, arcuate segments 14, 16 that extend in opposite circumferential directions about the axis 18, and the solid, cylindrical projections 20, 22 that extend past the arcuate segments 14, 16 along the opposite circumferential directions. The cast shank part 12 may be pre-polished in step 42, the hollow tubular shank part 24 is formed from a metal material by being rolled from sheet metal, or by extrusion. In step 44, a length for the tubular shank part 24 is selected to match a desired shank or wearer's finger size. In step 46, the tubular shank part 24 is bent and configured into an arcuate, generally U-shape or C-shape, for example, by wrapping the tubular shank part 24 around a cylindrical drum, or by passing the tubular shank part 24 through roller dies. In step 48, the tubular shank part 24 is connected to the cast shank part 12 to form an annular, circumferentially-complete shank that is centered on the axis 18 by inserting the projections 20, 22 into the openings 26, 28 that are provided at the opposite ends of the tubular shank part 24. In step 50, the seams 32, 34 are soldered shut. In step 52, the soldered seams 32, 34 are polished. At each seam 32, 34, each arcuate segment 14, 16 is cylindrical and has an outer diameter that closely matches an outer diameter of the tubular shank part 24 to minimize any step or transition across each seam 32, 34. If the article is a ring, then the setting 38 is cast in step 40, and the gemstone 38 is set after step 52.

It will he understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a composite article of jewelry, and a method of making the article, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. 1-9. (canceled)
 10. A method of making a composite article of jewelry, comprising: casting an arcuate, cast shank part from a molten metal material to form solid, arcuate segments that extend in opposite circumferential directions about an axis, and solid, cylindrical projections that extend past the arcuate segments along the opposite circumferential directions; forming a hollow tubular shank part of a metal material; selecting a length for the tubular shank part; configuring the tubular shank part into an arcuate shape, with openings at opposite ends of the tubular shank part; and connecting the tubular shank part to the cast shank part to form an annular shank that is centered on the axis by inserting the projections into the openings.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the forming of the tubular shank part is performed by rolling sheet metal into a hollow cylindrical tube.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selecting of the length for the tubular shank part is performed by matching a desired shank size.
 13. The method of claim 10, and configuring each opening with an inner dimension, and configuring each projection with an outer dimension that matches the inner dimension of each opening, and wherein the connecting of the tubular shank part to the cast shank part is performed by inserting the projections in the openings with a snug fit.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the connecting of the tubular shank part to the cast shank part is performed by inserting the projections in the openings along seams, configuring each arcuate segment with an outer dimension adjacent each seam, and configuring the tubular shank part with an outer dimension adjacent each seam that matches the outer dimension of each arcuate segment to minimize an outer transition between each arcuate segment and the tubular shank part.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the connecting of the tubular shank part to the cast shank part is performed at seams between the openings and the projections; soldering the seams; and polishing the soldered seams.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the casting is performed by casting a setting for supporting a gemstone between the arcuate segments.
 17. The method of claim 10, and constituting the metal material of each of the cast shank part and the tubular shank part from one of gold, silver, platinum, titanium, brass, and stainless steel. 